Apparatus for making shoulder boxes



Nov. 16, 1954 P. R. BROCK ETAL 2,694,197

APPARATUS FOR MAKING SHOULDER BOXES Filed Jan. 22, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l .5'- 14 7 5 W 1 O 0 E25... 0 5 13 1 [Q 0 0 )/J&\\ 21 INVENTORS Peter RBPOCK Stanley TDmwlierundler M G \womw Nov. 16, 1954 P. R. BROCK ETAL APPARATUS FOR MAKING SHOULDER BOXES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 22, 1953 INVENTORS O Peter RBJTOCK Stanley TDrucKemniller BY M Q 7%RNEY United States Patent "2,694,197 APPARATUS non MAKING SHOULDER BOXES Peter R. Brock, Wilmington, Del., and Stanley T. Druckenrniller, Clarksboro, N. J., assiguors to E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Company, Wilmington, DeL, a corporation of Delaware Application January 2 2, 1953,"Serial No. 332,672

3 Claims. (Cl. 1-11 This invention relatestoan apparatus formaking card board shoulder boxes by stapling or stitching, and more particularly to a modification of a stapling machine known in the art as the .Bliss stitcher. v r v The boxes made by the apparatus of the machine to which the invention relatesis described and claimed in co-pending application Serial No. 259,559, fil'edDecemher 3, 1951 by Chester A. Lawrence. The'box was designed for use in packaging dynamite, but has use in shipping other merchandise such as glassware, Christmas ornaments and the like which should not be opened with metallic objects. These boxes consist essentially of an identical bottom and cover portion which telescope over a rectangular tube which in length is exactly equal to the combined depth of the bottom and cover of the box, so that when the tube is inserted in the bottom and the cover set in place, the two abut within a very close tolerance. The box is then taped for final closure.

The boxes are supplied in the form of flat, cut-out and scored sheets. These are folded and the flaps stapled, usually with a double row of stitches to the box body. The lining tube and flaps are then stapled to the bottom half of the box. It is essential that the line of abutment between the top and bottom as they are put in place over the lining tube does not have spaces due to faulty alignment when the boxes are folded and stitched. It is to this feature in particular to which the present invention relates.

One difficulty with the prior art machines in making such boxes is that the line of abutment is not always true, leaving considerable space between the two halves in places and, at other points, abutting snugly. It is the purpose of the present invention to prepare the tops and bottoms of boxes of the type described above in which the line of abutment is not more than Mr" wide when the top and bottom are fitted tightly against the rectangular liner.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an apparatus adapted to use the Bliss or similar stitcher which permits the manufacture of the boxes described above to within very close tolerances along the line of abutment between the upper and lower halves of the box. Another object of the invention is the provision of a device which permits accurate alignment in manufacturing boxes in a simple and economical manner. Other objects will appear as the description of the invention proceeds.

The apparatus for accomplishing this purpose will be more fully understood by reference to the drawing in which Figure I is a top plan view of the apparatus incorporating the improvement of the present invention. Figure II is a side elevation of the same device. Figure III is a front elevation. Figure IV is a detailed view of the microswitch 3. Figure V is a schematic view of two such devices mounted on the arms of the stitching machine. The stitching heads have not been shown so that the details of mounting the device of the invention may be shown more clearly. Usually, however, the stitching head is positioned over the circle indicated as 18. Figure VI is a schematic view of the stitching heads and guide arms of apparatus incorporating the present invention. Figure VII is a section along the line VII-VII in Figure V showing one manner of supporting the retractable arms. In all the drawings the same numerals refer to the same parts.

In the drawing 1 represents two guide arms of the machine on which are mounted two retractable carriers 2,694,197 Patented Nov. 16, 1954 2 by means of ball or roller hearing as shownin Figure VII in which the retractable arm 2 is supported by several suitably placed rollers 2a rotatably mounted on stub shaft 2b and held in place by guide members 2c and 2d, the latter of which extends into a channel 2e made by bending up the bottom edge of the retractable carrier 2. In Figure V the retractable carriers are in the fully retracted'position. The'distance between the two tracks is adjusted'to the width of the box as will be more fully described hereinafter in connection with the operationof the machine. Each guide arm is supplied with a base 19 whichis recessed to fit a sliding mount 20 for adjustment and isheldin .place after adjustment by capstan nuts 7 which, in turn, are threaded onto bolts which extend upwardly through the guide arm 1, base 19 and sliding mount '20. The forward edge 21 of base 19 acts as a stop described more fully hereinafter. On each slidingmount 20 is secured a push type solenoid 5 which in the unenergized position allows the stop 4 to be raised bytorsion spring 24. The microswitch assembly Figure IV consists'es'sentially of a roller 8 mounted on an arm which is pivoted about point 15 and provided with a cam 16 which is in contact relation with spring 25, which whendepressed moves'plunger 17 inwardly to close the circuit. When energized the solenoid lowers stop 4 through linkage with plunger 13, yoke 22 and lever 11. The normally open circuit is closed by the microswitch assembly 3. The upward limit of stop 4 is adjusted by the position of set-screw 14. The microswitch is provided on only one of the mounts 20, but electrical connection is made through the conduit box 6 provided with outlets 8a and other electrical connections to the solenoid on the other mount so that both stops 4 operate simultaneously.

In operation the scored and cut out cardboard blank to be used as the bottom is folded so that the flaps extend across the appropriate side. The lining tube is put in place and the tube and bottom are placed over the retractable carriers 2 which will be in the extended position, that is, outward from stitching head. The distance between the carriers is adjusted to the width of the box minus the distance between the stitches when a double row is to be used. The assembly is then pushed against the carrier 2 so that it is retracted fully as the leading edge of the liner meets stop 21. As the box board 9 passes under the roller 8 of the microswitch, the solenoid is energized and the stop 4 is lowered. The slidingmount 20 is adjusted for the first box so that the leading edge of the box bottom fits snugly against stop 4, while the liner is stopped at 21, the front edge of base 19. The capstan nuts 7 are then tightened. The first stitch is then completed with the box fitting snugly against the side of one of the retractable carriers and stop 4. The successive stitches are then completed as the box is drawn toward the operator from under the stitching head. The speed of withdrawal determines the spacing of the staples.

After the first row is completed the box is then moved sideways until it fits snugly against the outer side of the opposite retractable carrier. The box is then pushed inwardly under the stitching head until its travel is terminated by stop 4 and stitched as before as the box is withdrawn. The operation of the stitching head is usually controlled by an electric foot switch. The box is then turned over and, in the same manner, stitched along the opposite side.

The retractable carrier 2 is provided with springs not shown to keep it in the extended position, that is, away from the stitching head. The box is fed under the stitcher against the tension springs of the retractable carr1er.

The blank which serves as the top of the box is then folded and stitched in similar manner by pressing an edge of its opened end against the stop 4 and stitching is performed as before. In this case, however, there would be no tubular liner, so a shim is placed under set screw 14 to lock the stop 4 in the down or closed position. After the top of the box has been stitched, it is ready for final closure which is accomplished by placing the top over the lining tube and applying tape to the closely abutting edges either vertically or horizontally.

It will be apparent that the guides are easily adjustable so that the line of abutment may be nearer the bottorn or top if desired. In some cases one row of stitching will sufiice, however, it has been found that a double row as described above provides a maximum of strength, light weight and economy for shipping dynamite.

It will be apparent that many widely difierent embodiments of this invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, and therefore it is not intended to be limited except as indicated in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In a stapling machine for staple stitching cardboard lined shoulder boxes the combination of a stitching head, a pair of parallel retractable carriers for holding the box to be stitched, a pair of guide arms on which the retractable carriers are mounted, an adjustable base secured to each of the said arms, a solenoid mounted on the said base, the forward edge of the said base being a stop for the liner of the said shoulder box to be stitched, a second stop mounted on said base and extending forwardly therefrom, linkage means connecting the second stop and the solenoid for raising and lowering the stop by the deenergization and energization of the solenoid and a microswitch mounted between the said second stop and the said base connected electrically to the said solenoid, the said microswitch being operated by a roller positioned to be in contact with the box liner as it passes thereunder and to complete the circuit to the solenoid, whereby the second stop is lowered and the travel of the box is limited by contact of the shoulder of the box with the said second stop.

2. In a staple stitching machine for manufacturing lined shoulder type boxes in which a pair of retractable carriers serve as guides for passing the area of the box to be stitched under a stitching head, the improvement which comprises an adjustable stop for limiting the travel of a tubular liner in the box and a second stop for limiting the travel of the shoulder portion of the said box, the said second stop being responsive to a microswitch which completes a circuit to a pair of solenoids as the tubular liner of the box passes under the said microswitch, the said second-mentioned stop being responsive to the action of the said solenoids to limit the travel of the box shoulder.

3. In a machine for staple stitching shoulder boxes provided with a base portion and a rectangular lining tube, the combination of a pair of retractable carriers for guiding the box under a stitching head, an adjustable stop for limiting the travel of the said liner and a second stop for limiting the travel of the shoulder portion of the said box, the said second stop being lowered as the liner passes under a microswitch, said microswitch being connected electrically to a pair of solenoids which raise and lower the said second stop.

No references cited. 

